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Owning a pet monkey comes with big challenges, but they can make joyful life-long companions. Caring for a monkey requires loads of time, money and patience, and it's one of the biggest commitments you'll ever make. If you're the special type of person who could accommodate a pet monkey, start doing research about what type would be the best fit. Provide a strong cage equipped with lots of toys, and prepare to spend many hours playing with your monkey and helping him feel comfortable. If you want to know more about what it takes to share your home with a pet monkey, see Step 1.

Steps

Part 1

Preparing to Bring a Monkey Home

1

Research monkey species. Monkeys are in the order of primates, which is divided into families of New World primates (smaller, tree-dwelling monkeys from South America) and families of Old World primates (larger, ground and tree-dwelling monkeys from Asia and Africa). Each type of monkey has unique characteristics that affect how they fare as pets. Before you decide which type to get, conduct a lot of research on its characteristics. Read books, talk to owners, and get to know as many monkeys as you can in person.

Squirrel monkeys, capuchins, spiders, and macaques are all types of monkeys people keep as pets. Some are more social, while others can be on the nervous side. These monkeys all have the same general care requirements, though larger monkeys will need more space than the smaller ones.

Apes, such a chimpanzees, gibbons and orangutans are not monkeys and should not be kept as pets. They are much stronger than humans and can become quite dangerous in a domestic situation.

2

Be ready for a huge commitment. Bringing a monkey into your home is almost as big a commitment as deciding to have a child. Monkeys require attention all day, every day, and unlike cats and dogs, they cannot be left at home for extended periods of time. Once your monkey bonds with you, he will want to follow you wherever you go, and if you try to leave him by himself he will become bored, depressed and aggressive. Monkeys can live for 20 to 40 years, so bringing one home is a commitment to spend a significant portion of your life providing for your monkey's needs. Before you decide to get a pet monkey, ponder the following facts about life with a monkey:

The monkey may become aggressive. When monkeys are babies, they are dependent and sweet, like baby humans. But when they reach sexual maturity, which happens around age 3 or 4, their behavior can become unpredictable. Monkeys are wild animals, and unlike cats and dogs, they have not been socialized to live with humans over thousands of years. Even a monkey who has bonded with a human as a baby may unpredictably bite and attack his owner or become quite difficult to live with as an adult.

You'll have to say goodbye to your free time. Monkeys cannot be left to their own devices. They need constant attention and care, or else they can end up hurting themselves or someone else. And since they tend to bond with just one person, it's difficult to find a good monkey-sitter when you need some time to yourself.

Your monkey may prevent you from having relationships you want. Monkeys tend to bond with just a few people. Having a monkey might prevent you from getting intimately involved with potential partners to whom the monkey has a negative reaction. Monkeys don't get along well with children, so having a monkey could keep you from starting a family.

All that said, if you are one of the unique people with the temperament and discipline it takes to devote your life to the safety and care of your monkey, you may be rewarded with an amazing experience. Monkeys are intelligent, endlessly entertaining, and sometimes incredibly affectionate. Many people who share their lives with monkeys embrace the challenges and wouldn't trade their time with their beloved pets for anything.

3

Find out if it's legal to own a monkey in your state. It is illegal to have a pet monkey in many states, and more states will probably pass laws against the practice in the future. For this reason, it's difficult to move to a new state or travel across state lines when you own a monkey. It's illegal to bring a monkey into the US, so that means you can't travel abroad with your monkey and then try to bring him home.

Some states allow monkeys to be kept as pets, but have strict regulations as to the conditions under which the monkeys should be contained.

Regulations regarding pet monkeys are different in countries outside the US. Look into the laws in your jurisdiction to find out whether there are any restrictions on which animals you can keep as pets.

4

Find a dealer or breeder with an excellent reputation. When you've decided that it's time to get a monkey, do research in your area to find a dealer or breeder with an established reputation as someone who can be trusted. They should have a USDA permit number, which is required of all breeders in the United States.

Ask the dealer or breeder for the contact information of someone else who has bought a monkey from them. That way you can check into the monkey's health and behavior.[1]

Expect to pay upwards of $1,000 for a monkey of any species. A baby squirrel monkey can cost over $8,000. Older monkeys are less expensive, but much more difficult to handle once you bring them home.

Before you make a purchase, visit with the monkey you'd like to buy and make sure you have a connection and can see yourself living with the monkey.

Never purchase a monkey from outside the country. It's illegal to ship a monkey from outside the United States.

5

Find an exotic animals veterinarian nearby. Before you bring a monkey home, it's important to establish a relationship with an exotic animals veterinarian. A regular veterinarian will not have the necessary expertise and equipment to care for a monkey. Monkeys are prone to catching some of the same illnesses that humans have, as frequently as humans, so you can expect that your monkey will get sick from time to time. An exotic animals vet will also be a good resource for you when you have questions about your monkey's needs or behavioral issues.[2]

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Part 1 Quiz

Before bringing a monkey into your home, you should ask yourself:

"Am I interested in having a family?"

Close! Monkeys tend to bond with just one or a few people, and it will be very challenging to introduce children into the mix. If you're seriously considering a monkey -- or a family -- it's important to understand how difficult the combination will be. There are other things to consider, however. There’s a better option out there!

"Am I interested in moving out of state?"

Try again! There are many states in America where it is illegal to own a monkey, and more are passing laws. If you want to have a monkey, understand that you will be restricted in where you can move. There are other things to keep in mind, however. Choose another answer!

"Am I interested in traveling abroad?"

Almost! Monkeys cannot travel back into the United States, meaning you cannot take your monkey on an international trip with you. If you want to travel a lot, a monkey may not be the best option for you, but there are other things to keep in mind. Try again...

All of the above.

Correct! Monkeys are a huge responsibility! They can live for a very long time and their nature makes it challenging to find a sitter or to leave them alone for too long. If you're planning on having a family, moving, or traveling a lot, a monkey may not be the right choice for you. Read on for another quiz question.

Part 2

Providing Food and Shelter

1

Build or buy a monkey cage. Your pet monkey might spend time out of his cage, but he'll need a place to stay at night and during times when you aren't available to play. A monkey's cage should be quite large, the bigger the better.[3] Monkeys need plenty of room to run around, explore and play, especially if they're going to spend more than an hour or two at a time in the cage. If the cage is too small, the monkey will become agitated and potentially aggressive.

You can purchase a monkey cage, but many owners prefer to build their own so they can customize them to their personal space. Wooden or steel poles and chain-link fencing make good materials for monkey cages. You may want to have an outdoor monkey cage as well as one indoors, or build a monkey cage attached to a heated outdoor shed that will provide shelter for the monkey.

Be sure to follow your state's regulations regarding the dimensions, entryways and locks on monkey cages. In some cases the regulations differ according to what type of monkey you own.

Monkeys like to climb, so provide a cage with plenty of height. Add branches, hanging ropes, and other features that will allow your monkey to climb around the cage.

2

Monkey-proof your house. Most monkey owners allow their pets to spend time around the house, rather than just in their cages. Monkeys are curious, intelligent creatures that will get into everything available to them, so you'll need to take the time to remove items that could cause them harm or suffer damage. Since monkeys can climb, your monkey-proofing will have to be more extensive than baby-proofing would be.

Don't let monkeys have access to anything with a cord. Make sure all electronics are out of their reach.

They'll tear down curtains, knock over lamps and chew on furniture. Put away any items you aren't comfortable letting them destroy.

You might want to have one or two designated "monkey rooms" that the monkeys are allowed to play in, and have the rest of the house be off-limits. Remember that monkeys can turn doorknobs and open windows, so if you're planning to let the monkey stay there unsupervised, you'll need to make sure the room is as secure as a cage would be, with locks and bars on the windows.

3

Keep the monkey's space clean. Monkeys keep their own bodies clean, but they leave a mess wherever they go. They aren't easy to house-train, and they excrete whenever and wherever they choose. Some people put diapers on baby monkeys, but this isn't usually possible once the monkeys mature. Rather, you should plan on cleaning up after your monkey at least once a day to maintain sanitary conditions in the cage and in your home.

4

Provide clean water bottles every day. Monkeys should always have access to fresh water that they drink from clean water bottles. You can use baby bottles for this purpose. Some monkeys may prefer to take their water from a dish, and some might like to have both options. However you administer the water, make sure there's no chance the monkey will run out.

5

Feed him monkey biscuits, fruits and vegetables. Monkey biscuits, or commercial monkey food, should be fed to your monkey every single day. These biscuits contain the right combination of vitamins and minerals to meet your monkey's needs. In addition to monkey biscuits, monkeys enjoy cut up fruit and fresh or steamed vegetables.[4]

Do not feed your monkey anything that is considered "junk food" for a human. Sugary treats, ice cream, baked goods, snack foods, fast food, and raw meat should never be fed to a monkey.

Depending on the type of monkey you have, you may also need to supplement his diet with extra vitamins. Monkeys kept inside may need extra vitamin D to account for the lack of sun exposure.

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Part 2 Quiz

When you are monkey-proofing your house, it's important to remember:

Monkeys like to listen to outdoor sounds.

Not necessarily! Of course, windows are a great way to ensure your monkey gets light and can watch the world around it. Still, there's something way more important to keep in mind. Pick another answer!

Monkeys can dig through the floor.

Nope! Monkeys are very capable and can cause a lot of damage, but they're not going to start digging tunnels through your floorboards. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Monkeys can turn knobs and locks.

Absolutely! Monkeys are incredibly smart, so a simple lock isn't going to cut it! If you're monkey-proofing your home, you want to use the same level of security as you would on a cage, or they will get out. Read on for another quiz question.

Monkeys can crawl through very tiny spaces.

Not quite! Depending on what kind of monkey you have, you may want to seal vents or close up holes, but a monkey doesn't have the same body-shrinking skills as a ferret or cat. Guess again!

Part 3

Socializing and Training the Monkey

1

Give the monkey plenty of toys and stimulation. Monkeys need a lot of variety and stimulation in order to be happy. In the wild, they spend most of their time climbing around trees and looking for food. Simulate that experience in your monkey's cage and around the house by providing lots of interesting things for the monkey to play with and pull apart.

Try hiding the monkey's food inside a box, or in a container with small holes that the monkey can reach one hand into. The monkey will have fun trying to figure out how to get to the food.

Give the monkey stuffed animals, balls, and other toys to throw around and play with. Switch out the toys frequently so the monkey won't get bored.

2

Play with the monkey every day. Monkeys are social creatures, and when they're left alone for long periods of time they grow very unhappy. Spend a few hours playing with your monkey every single day. As you bond with your monkey, he'll start trusting you enough to climb up your body and give you hugs or even kisses.

If you have more than one monkey, less social time is necessary. Many monkeys are happier living with others of their kind. If you can afford more than one, they'll live happily together in the same cage.

3

Never punish a monkey. Hitting or yelling at a monkey will cause him to become afraid of you. It's also completely ineffective if you want to control your monkey's behavior. Remember that monkeys are wild, and they simply can't be trained to do exactly what you want them to do. From time to time they'll exhibit behaviors you might not like. Punishing them will only hurt your relationship.

The best way to deal with negative behaviors is to make sure the monkey isn't lacking something that he needs to be content. Does he have enough stimulation every day? Is he getting plenty of exercise? Are you playing with him enough?

Monkeys that are afraid or agitated might bite from time to time. Again, you can't deal with this by punishing the monkey. Instead, get to know his moods and learn to leave him alone when he might be in the mood to bite.

4

Do not let the monkey play with strangers. It's not a good idea to take your monkey out in public, or invite people to your home to play with him. Monkeys are too unpredictable. Your monkey can get taken away in an instant if an accident happens. If your monkey so much as scratches someone, an Animal Control officer has the right to confiscate him to test him for rabies. When exotic animals are confiscated, they are often euthanized, since there is no law requiring a quarantine period for exotic animals (as there is for domesticated animals like cats and dogs).

If you have to go out of town and leave the monkey in someone else's care, make sure it's someone the monkey has met many times and has come to trust. Leaving the monkey with a total stranger could be stressful for him and lead to dangerous consequences.

5

Have fun communicating with your monkey. Say his name when you feed him or offer them a toy, so he'll begin to learn it. When he responds, give him a treat and praise him. Teach him commands by showing him how to act. For example, if you say "dance," start hopping around and dancing. When he learns a trick, give him treats and praise him.

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Part 3 Quiz

If your monkey does something wrong, you should respond by:

Punishing it with a newspaper or shoe.

Definitely not! Monkeys are wild animals and they cannot be trained like dogs. Physically punishing your monkey will only give it cause to fear you -- and potentially put you into danger. Never use force with your monkey. Try again...

Considering what it needs.

Absolutely! If a monkey is acting out or behaving out of characters, chances are that its needs are not being met. Check the water, the toys, the environment and try to give your monkey more social time. It should return to its normal behavior. Read on for another quiz question.

Taking away its toys.

Nope! Monkeys tend to act out if they're uncomfortable, and taking away its toys will only make it more uncomfortable. You won't want to punish your monkey the way you would a dog or even a child. There are more effective steps to take. Guess again!

Bringing it outside.

Not quite! If you have a safe environment, bringing your monkey outside may help to calm it. Still, it shouldn't be anywhere around people when it's agitated, and it's important to determine the root cause of the behavior. Choose another answer!

Go to a vegan shop and buy the pet shampoo - even dog and cat shampoo works. Vegan is a great choice because otherwise, the monkey may get an allergic reaction, or the shampoo may harm the monkey if it licks the shampoo.

You will want a very large cage, whether inside or outside. Chain link fence or other similar materials will do, as long as there is nothing for it to hurt itself on. Buy plenty of toys, branches, and tires for it to swing from.

Tips

Take him/her to the vet regularly and take notes of anything the vet tells you.

Do not put the monkey in situations where he/she may want to bite. If you have visitors, keep the monkey in the cage and tell people to not get too close.

Monkeys are most fun when they are young, when they grow up they take on personalities of their own which you may not like. They're wild animals. They're not like cats and dogs. You may want to plan on getting a second monkey as a companion to the first.

Unfortunately, many people find out the hard way that while little monkeys are fun while they're small, the story changes as they get older. The monkey is like a 2 year old who never grows beyond 2. The monkeys are not so easy to get rid of because there are plenty of older monkeys around and not many shelters. People who buy monkeys want the little ones. Monkeys don't adjust all that well to new people. Therefore, unless you're planning on keeping this monkey for it's whole life, 40 years or more, it's best to opt for a different pet.

When washing your monkey, use a very gentle soap.

When you buy a monkey make sure its legal not black market there are real breeders so don't buy immediately after you see it be patient and look around.

Monkeys are lovable and once bonded to you, it is a lifetime bond.

Remember when you have your monkey around other people, they need to feel safe. Your pet monkey probably will not want to be held by others, even if they are your friend, they are strangers to your pet monkey.

Do not keep a monkey that is more than a small fraction of your weight. If you are unable to easily pick up the monkey, he's/she's too big for you and you may get your backside kicked when he/she gets older.

You need to know all about how to keep a monkey safe before getting one make sure you know which kind of monkey you would want before anything else, and make sure you are prepared!

Experience has taught that this pet is not for everyone. If you work full-time, have children and are a busy person, this might not be the pet for you!

Warnings

Find a vet before you get a monkey, an exotic pet is the only vet to take care of the monkey, but these cost thousands of dollars.

Be prepared to spend thousands of dollars just to keep ONE monkey in healthy conditions.

Be aware that the monkey trade is something of a dirty business. People want the baby monkeys and will pay thousands of dollars for them. The babies are ripped from their mothers right after birth. This is very traumatic for the mother and baby. After you get your baby you will raise it as best you can but as the monkey gets older he/she begins to act like a terrible two year old and isn't as much fun any more. Monkey's live to be about 40 so what happens to the monkey when you don't want it any more? It wasn't out in the wild so if you release the monkey it would never survive? The unwanted monkey is in a tough spot with few options.

Know the costs and punishments of owning a monkey illegally. If you do have a monkey and you do not have a license, go to the local zoo and explain that you did not, and you will not be tried for fees.

You have to have a license for the monkey because it is illegal to own or take care of one without a license.

References

To take care of a monkey, you'll need to be ready for a huge commitment. Taking care of a monkey can be as much of a time commitment as a child, and they can't be left alone for extended periods of time like a dog or a cat. Monkeys can live for 20-40 years, and once they grow attached to you, they won't want to leave your side, so make sure you can always be there for them. Owning a monkey is illegal in many places, so research your local laws before you get a monkey as a pet. To learn how to provide food and shelter for a pet monkey, scroll down!

Article Info

This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article meets our high standards.